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2.1: The Scientific Method

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    225436

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    Learning Objectives
    1. Describe the scientific method and its key steps in conducting research.
    2. Identify common biases in personal inquiry and explain how the scientific method helps mitigate them.

    An important part of learning any science is having a basic understanding of the techniques used to gather information. The hallmark of scientific investigation is following a set of procedures designed to keep questioning or skepticism alive while describing, explaining, or testing any phenomenon. Some people are hesitant to trust academicians or researchers because they always seem to change their story. That, however, is exactly what science is all about; it involves continuously renewing our understanding of the subjects in question and an ongoing investigation of how and why events occur. Science is a vehicle for going on a never-ending journey. In the area of development, we have seen changes in nutrition recommendations, in explanations of psychological states as people age, and in parenting advice. Think of learning about human development as a lifelong journey.

    Take a moment to write down two things that you know about childhood. Now, how do you know? Chances are you know these things based on your own history (experiential reality) or based on what others have told you or cultural ideas (agreement reality) (Seccombe and Warner, 2004). There are several problems with personal inquiry. Read the following sentence aloud:

    Paris in the the spring

    Are you sure that is what it said? Read it again:

    Paris in the the spring

    If you read it differently the second time (adding the second “the”), you just experienced one of the problems with personal inquiry; that is, the tendency to see what we believe. Our assumptions very often guide our perceptions. Consequently, when we believe something, we tend to see it even if it is not there. This problem may just be a result of cognitive ‘blinders’ or it may be part of a more conscious attempt to support our own views. Confirmation bias is the tendency to look for evidence that supports our position and, in doing so, we ignore contradictory evidence. Popper suggests that the distinction between what is scientific and what is unscientific is that science is falsifiable; scientific inquiry involves attempts to reject or refute a theory or set of assumptions (Thornton, 2005). A theory that cannot be falsified is not scientific. And much of what we do in personal inquiry involves drawing conclusions based on our personal experiences or validating our own experiences by discussing what we think is true with others who share the same views.

    Science offers a more systematic way to make comparisons and guard against bias.

    The Scientific Method

    The scientific method is the process for understanding the world around us. The goal is to try to explain phenomena.

    1. Identify a question: This can come from previous research, a theory, or an observation.
    2. Create a testable explanation (form a hypothesis): A hypothesis is what one proposes as an explanation for a phenomenon, or in layman's terms, it's a researcher’s idea about a possible answer to a research question​. Most social scientists formulate what are known as null hypotheses, or stating that there is no statistical significance between two (or more) variables. The reason for this is that it can be tested to determine whether a statistical relationship reflects a real relationship between the variables or if it is simply due to chance.
    3. Choose a design: Based on what you're investigating and how the research question is worded, this will dictate the type of design, or methods, you will use to collect data for interpretation in answering your research questions. There are three main types of research methods that may be used: quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods.
    4. Collecting data: Based on the parameters of the research design (each has its own), the next step is to collect and analyze the data. For qualitative methods, the process involves organizing the data materials and coding for similar themes. For quantitative data, statistical analyses are run to determine if a relationship exists. Both types of methods can be analyzed using computer software programs.
    5. Draw conclusions: Drawing conclusions refers to information that may be implied or inferred based on the results of the analyses. This means that the information is never clearly stated.

    Your findings can then be used by others as they explore the area of interest, and through this process, a literature or knowledge base is established. This model of scientific investigation presents research as a linear process guided by a specific research question. And it typically involves quantifying or using statistics to understand and report what has been studied. Many academic journals publish reports on studies conducted in this manner.

    Video Video Description and Text Link

    The scientific method is a logical approach to understanding the world. It starts with an observation, followed by a question. A testable explanation or hypothesis is then created. An experiment is designed to test the hypothesis, and based on the results, the hypothesis is refined. This process is repeated, leading to a deeper understanding of the observed phenomenon. This method ensures our knowledge is built on a solid foundation. The Scientific Method was created by Sal Khan.

    Text link: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/...entific-method

    References, Contributors, and Attributions

    Research Methods by Lumen Learning is licensed under CC BY 4.0

    Confidentiality and Informed Consent: Issues for Consideration in the Preservation of and Provision of Access to Qualitative Data Archives by Louise Corti, Annette Day & Gill BackhouseSource is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (modified by Jennifer Paris); "No thank you, not today": Supporting Ethical and Professional Relationships in Large Qualitative Studies by Lisa J. Blodgett, Wanda Boyer & Emily TurkSource is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (modified by Jennifer Paris

    Research Methods in Developmental Psychology by Angela Lukowski and Helen Milojevich is licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

    Seccombe, K., & Warner, R. L. (2004). Class, race, and gender in criminology: The intersections. Pearson.

    Thornton, S. (2005). Karl Popper. Routledge.

    This page titled 2.1: The Scientific Method is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Heather Carter.